The operation and maintenance of the NOAA Polar Satellite System involves a great variety of activities in many locations throughout the United States of America. This report is to summarize this system and to provide interested people with a perspective of the operational NOAA polar orbiting satellite system. The NOAA polar system description serves as a reference for developers of short-range modifications of the system. This system description serves as a guide as to how services are generated for users of the system's output. This report is primarily for use within the National Environmental Satellite Service and its parent organization, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A glossary of terms is included for those less familiar with the system. The reader is cautioned that the system is described either as it was or was intended to be with the introduction of the third operational spacecraft NOAA-3 in the late fall of 1973. Specific plans to update this document in the future have not been made; however, your comments on the document and its need for revision are welcome.